Sorry for the long wait. I was distracted with the NBA finals over here and work. I have completed two chapters however, so they should be coming out over the course of this week.
@Sethanon, Soulstrider, and Davis: Thanks
@Habemus: We can discuss this over PM if you want. I'm copying these things word for word from the Kaiserpedia and I like your suggestions better. It feels more authentic.
The Collision
Communiqué between two officials in the Commune of France and the Socialist Republic of Italy. Identities are unknown said:
The die has been cast. We cannot go back now nor hide from the destruction the future will bring. This is the first step towards our ultimate victory- or our defeat.
The end of the International in mid-May saw the delegates of the international syndicalist movement return back to their respective homes. Of all these, the gravest threat lied with the American and Spanish delegations. Both were returning home to uncertain conditions- Hemingway had his brigade to return to in the midst of a violent Civil War while the CNT-FAI operatives remaining in Spain returned to a country becoming increasingly unstable.
The German Empire for its part, reacting to the Second Congress's declarations against Mitteleuropa and the Entente, began to reach out to neighboring states, to start a line of dialogue to secure their aid in the event of a war with France.
The RSI was aware of the developing situation in Spain. They had allowed the CNT-FAI the most room to operate in their territory, which in turn developed a warm relationship between the two groups. The Italian CNT-FAI operatives visited London to meet with other operatives, and on May 7th, long before the completion of the Congress. Upon their return, they immediately requested a meeting with President Togliatti.
The entirety of the meeting is still unknown, but it is believed here that the operatives told Togliatti of the near total collapse of the government in Madrid. In particular Togliatti was informed that King Alfonso XIII had suffered a stroke earlier that year and entered into a coma- a fact that the Kingdom of Spain had largely hidden from the public. Only a few other nations were aware of the severity of King Alfonso’s health, and Togliatti now was one of the few foreign leaders who knew the truth behind King Alfonso’s stroke and ongoing coma.
The operatives relayed their distress at the situation. The government had continued to crack down on CNT-FAI cells and workers’ strikes in Spain, while allowing the other parties, the Carlist-sympathizers included, operate with freedom.
However, as the operatives also disclosed to Togliatti, signs began to emerge that Madrid was getting increasingly displeased with Prince Xavier’s activities and insults of the government, and some recent rallies by the Carlists were broken up by the police.
It was however at the end of the discussion that Togliatti saw the point of the conversation:
Conversation between Togliatti and the CNT-FAI operatives said:
President: Comrades, this is nice and all, but why request a meeting with me? Surely this could have been handled by one of the other staff?
Operative 1: You have not let us finish, Comrade Togliatti. We merely had to establish the real potential for war in Spain. What comes next involves you and the rest of Italy. Comrade [redacted – “Operative 2”] can inform you further.
Operative 2: Comrade, as you may know already, Prince Xavier earned the trust of the crown by securing valuable economic agreements with other catholic nations, such as Ireland, Austria, and the Italian Federation, forming a so-called “Catholic Economic Block”.
What was not so well known however is that Prince Xavier also secured military aid from these nations. In particular the Italian Federation has been sending surplus weaponry from Austria to Carlist groups, and a secret protocol was signed between Prince Xavier and the Italian Federation regarding the Socialist Republic of Italy.
Excuse me… ah, here it is. I direct you to this line here- you’ll see clearly that in exchange for Vatican aid and blessings, the Carlists in turn promise in the event of their rise to power in Spain that they will help the Vatican in “eradicating” the syndicalist menace. Part of this is enacting an embargo on the Socialist Republic of Italy by preventing any passage through Gibraltar.
Operative 3: We don’t need to tell you how bad this would be, President. With the Mediterranean closed, you would only have France to fall back on- with no possible means to contact other nations beyond the Mediterranean states.
President: I see. And what is it you propose?
Operative 1: Merely that you’ll stand by us when the moment comes. War is on the horizon. It would be beneficial if you could get France in a position to help us as well.
The Carlists can easily paint a war as a “Reconquista” of sorts- the reestablishment of Spain as the faithful defender of Christendom, standing strong against syndicalism. It will be to the Catholic masses what the American November Revolution has so far done to excite the minds of socialists everywhere.
Surely, you do not want the Italian Federation to manipulate your populace once again?
The minutes of the meeting- in their entirety- was relayed to Nenni and Gramsci upon their return to the RSI. The matter was highly sensitive and kept within the Council of the Republic and not disclosed to the House of Commons. Even Nenni was instructed not to relay the matter to the Commune of France- even though Makhno led the anarchists in France and would naturally be the first to leap to the CNT-FAI’s defense. The Anarchists had of course secured the top tiers of the Communal Army’s command structure, but the Sorelian and Jacobins still maintained extensive influence in the military and would naturally attempt to use the war to support their faction within the factions of revolutionary Spain.
The unfolding situation was watched carefully by the CNT-FAI operatives at their informal base of operations within the RSI at Reggio Calabria. Street battles erupted in the major cities across Spain as the government could no longer adequately explain the absence of King Alfonso from public affairs.
On May 18th, the Spanish government saw a general strike grip Barcelona, while Prince Xavier in Madrid held a “Rally of the Faithful” pronouncing that the “rebirth of Spain” would be imminent. Both of the “extreme” factions were now spiraling out of control, and the government ordered crackdowns on both the strikers in Barcelona and the arrest of Prince Xavier.
The government could secure neither. Prince Xavier fled before the horses and batons came down, and the government found the workers in Barcelona far too troublesome to get under control. The major cities were engulfed in chaos and the countryside fell into disorder.
On May 18th, Prince Xavier emerged in Burgos, and flanked by his loyal paramilitaries, declared a war to “save Spain from destruction”. Raising the Cross of Burgundy, Prince Xavier declared himself a king of a “New Spain” and the defender of the faithful in Spain, and the beginning of the “Second Reconquista”.
The following day the government intervention in Barcelona failed as the military found itself outnumbered and even saw that the police turned on them. Similar reports came from Valencia that the workers’ councils had assumed control of the city and the surrounding countryside. The CNT-FAI emerged from hiding and declared the creation of a new workers’ government and the death of the bourgeois government, joining the workers’ councils of Barcelona and Valencia into one entity, and eventually gaining the support of many other areas along the Mediterranean coast.
The situation developed rather quickly for the RSI. President Togliatti and the rest of the Council of the Republic saw that the CNT-FAI operatives were not merely making idle threats, but were warning them of a real possibility- one that was coming true right before their eyes. Soon enough, the leader of the CNT-FAI in Italy [1] informed the Council of the Republic that they would be departing to Spain to help out their comrades, as would their other men in France and the Union of Britain.
Soon enough, foreign powers began to intervene in the affairs of the broken Spanish nation. The Russian Empire made its first foray into foreign affairs by declaring full support for the beleaguered Kingdom of Spain, while the Portuguese chose to support the Carlists as the legitimate power in Spain.
The German Empire began to make preparations for support for the Kingdom, but decided to test the mettle of the Spanish by having its colonial authorities in Mittelafrika offer to buy the Spanish colony of Bata from the Kingdom. This was accepted by the Kingdom of Spain, desperate for any form of cash and no longer able to feasibly maintain its distant colony in Africa.
The Commune of France quickly decided to declare full support for the anarchists of Spain on May 20, mostly due to Makhno’s pressuring within the organs of the Commune of France. Soon, volunteers and material began to stream over the border of France to the revolutionaries in Spain.
The following day, Mexico decided to recognize the CNT-FAI and offer it support in its fight, while simultaneously opening its borders to refugees from Spain.
Ireland however, already refusing to participate in the Catholic Economic Block nearly a year earlier, decided against taking a position on the Spanish Civil War, continuing its isolationist trends.
Within the RSI however, the House of Commons found the matter harder to back. The Anarcho-Syndicalist’s were split over the matter, with some feeling that diplomatic support was sufficient while others stating that the country’s problems with electrical production would be exacerbated by supporting the war effort in Spain. The Social-Reformists were in favor of just diplomatic support, while the National-Syndicalists refused to support “anarchist rabble” in Spain.
It was however the Italian Federation that moved the RSI into action. On May 25, making good on the protocols of the Catholic Economic Block, the Federation sent full aid along with the authorities in National France.
More over the Pope gave his blessings to King Xavier as a faithful defender of Christendom and hoped for his success in “restoring peace” to Spain, and urged all “good Catholics” everywhere to send what they could to the Carlists in Spain.
By late May the war entered into full swing, with the three factions of Spain cutting up the regions among themselves. The Kingdom of Spain retained the heartland of Spain down to Gibraltar, the Carlists secured the northwestern parts of the country, and the CNT-FAI occupied the northeastern Mediterranean seaboard.
The Spanish Civil War at the outbreak of hostilities
With the presence of the CNT-FAI, the Carlists decided to attempt a bold plan to assassinate the crown prince of the Kingdom of Spain- for all intents and purposes the actual King of Spain considering Alfonso’s coma. The Carlists hoped that if the plan succeeded, the Kingdom of Spain might enter into chaos and become a less powerful entity, or possibly even recognize Xavier as the rightful king. Whatever the case, the CNT-FAI was able to catch wind of it and attempted to use it as leverage with the Kingdom of Spain.
The offer was simple- in exchange for clemency and protection from the CNT-FAI, the royal family and the government would surrender to the CNT-FAI and transfer control of its territories to the government in Barcelona.
The CNT-FAI knew the chances of this deal being accepted was slim, but it would cost nothing to offer it on the table, and better yet at least expose the dark side of the supposedly “good Catholics” of the Carlists. The Kingdom of Spain rejected the offer, feeling that there was no real chance that the Crown Prince would be assassinated by anyone.
However, the CNT-FAI found itself receiving the wrath of the catholic block soon enough with its revelation of the Carlist assassination plot. On May 26th, an Italian Federation merchant fleet transporting weaponry and supplies to the Carlists was raided by pirates affiliated to the CNT-FAI. During the raid a number of Italian Federation seaman and officers were killed for no apparent reason by the pirates, leading to immense condemnation by the Vatican.
The Federation decided to make its first bold move onto the international arena. On the same day Pope Julius stated to crowds gathered underneath St. Peter’s Basilica that the members of the CNT-FAI were heretics and evil-doers, cut from the same cloth of the “oppressive separatists in the South”. He declared the “wrath of God shall smite the anarchists” and formally declared war on the CNT-FAI.
Now the words of the CNT-FAI operatives were vindicated; the Italian Federation now moved itself into cementing a full alliance with the Carlists. Spain would be the first grand entrance of the Catholic Block on to the international stage, the first stage in what they felt would be the next world order.
This sent both Paris and Naples into rage, with the latter sending telegrams condemning such a direct intervention in another nation’s civil war. The response from Rome was simple enough: “The wrath of God shall cleanse Spain. It will be the first step in restoring Christendom too all those who have strayed from the path and oppressed the faithful”.
The National-Syndicalists, suddenly forgetting their previous antipathy towards the anarchists of Spain, now began to beat the war drums to declare war on the Italian Federation. The Social-Reformists attempted to argue for more measured response, joining the Anarcho-Syndicalists in stating that a war with the Italian Federation might provoke Germany and/or Austria into intervening in the war.
Communiqués between Paris and Naples went along the same lines- both were attempting to grapple with how to possibly intervene in Spain without provoking the German Empire. The Italian Federation’s intervention would give France a convenient pretext to get itself involved in Spain, but the German Empire would not sit idly by.
The Union of Britain, further emerging from its isolationist positions, publically declared its support for the CNT-FAI and organized what supplies and aid it could to the revolutionaries in Spain. It also joined France and the RSI in condemning the Federation intervention in the war. Austria, holding faithful to its commitment in the Catholic Economic Block, began to send aid to the Carlists in Spain.
The RSI, seeing as many other Syndicalist nations had already thrown in full support for the CNT-FAI, decided to finally declare its support for the revolutionaries in Spain on May 28th. The role of the Italian Federation’s intervention could not be understated in finally breaking the deadlock in the House of Commons.
The German Empire also intervened directly, choosing to support the Kingdom of Spain in its efforts while condemning the Austrian Empire for not doing the same. The aid that the Italian Federation sent earlier- though irrelevant now due to that country’s direct intervention- finally reached the hands of the Carlists.
The beginning of June marked the end of interventions in Spain as the Civil War heated up. The Italian Federation began to deploy divisions within Carlists territories while attempting landings on the CNT-FAI’s territories on the Mediterranean coast. The war did not seem to indicate any sort of quick victory by any of the parties- though France had suddenly become rather silent on Spain.
The RSI was not sure as to what France was doing- was it planning a direct intervention or simply trying to forget Spain altogether? Was its attention drawn elsewhere?
The RSI found its answer on June 15th when France demanded the French-speaking Romandy province of Switzerland- containing the city of Geneva- to be seceded to the Commune of France.
The Commune of France cited oppression of the French-speaking peoples in Switzerland and a “white terror” against workers in that country- something the RSI did not see at all with its own intelligence networks- but had nonetheless bullied Switzerland into surrendering a significant chunk of its territory to the Commune of France.
The Union of Britain saw that it had a situation to deal with as well. The Irish, attempting to find another source of trade after the Catholic Economic Block nations shunned them for not supporting the Carlists in Spain, reached out to its former imperial power in Ottawa for economic help. Canada, hoping to see this as a potential first step into cementing a position form which it can attack the British Isles, approved the request.
On June 18th, the German-controlled Kingdom of White Ruthenia had a significant event as Prince Sigismund, a claimant to the throne of the kingdom though not among the ranks of the royal family, was arrested outside the National Theater. In cooperation with German Intelligence, it was discovered that Sigismund had devised a plot to assassinate the King and his entire family by setting off explosives in the National Theater, so as to set up his own rise to the throne. He had planned to arrive late just as the bomb was going off so as to appear innocent- but his plan was foiled before it could be enacted.
On June 19th, another war engulfed a syndicalist-friendly nation. The Mitteleuropa-aligned state of La Plata presented an ultimatum to the syndicalist nation of Bolivia, demanding that the entirety of the Santa Cruz Department. Bolivia, with memories of its humiliation from the previous war still fresh, refused to give anything to La Plata, thus starting a war between the two nations. The syndicalist nation of Brazil honored its alliance with Bolivia and joined in the war against La Plata.
Unfortunately for either nation, the support it could possibly receive from the nations of the Syndintern would be limited- La Plata was officially a member of Mitteleuropa, and the Commune of France did not wish to cause a war with them yet. Regardless, advisors and support were sent discretely to Brazil to aid in their efforts.
The RSI for its part continued to issue complaints and warnings to the Italian Federation over its intervention in Spain, which the Federation ignored. The RSI for some time stayed in contact with the Commune of France over Syndintern action in Spain- it was already decided that there should be an increase in support for the CNT-FAI. Already it appeared the American Revoution seemed to be more and more secure- especially with the news on July 15th that Washington DC fell to a Combined Syndicates attack led by General Smedley Butler [2].
However, the involvement of the Italian Federation was an issue. The naval forces of the Federation were maintaining a blockade on the CNT-FAI which made delivery to them difficult, leaving only the land routes in France available to them. The Federation also began to prevent RSI ships containing aid to the CNT-FAI from docking at France.
The Federation was getting on both the RSI and the Commune of France’s nerves- it was only its guarantee of independence by the German Empire that prevented either from doing anything about it. So it was no surprise that the news of a war in the east came as a great relief to the Syndintern.
On July 6th, an incident took place on the border of the Fengtian Clique-controlled Manchurian state and the Qing Empire. A railroad ran between the two states, constructed by the Japanese in the past. Japan reported that 25 Manchurians and 12 Japanese died on the border, blaming fire from the Qing garrison across the border. The specifics were unclear and possibly fabricated- but the Japanese were looking for any pretext to finally expand into China and remove Germany as a power in the east.
Ignoring a possibility for “compensation”, feeling the German Empire would refuse that, the Japanese opted for war on the Qing Empire, which in turn provoked the German Empire into declaring war on Japan. Soon, Germany’s attention was divided between its involvement in La Plata and defending its colonial holdings in the far-east.
The Austrians too were distracted. In the renegotiations of the Ausgleich earlier that year, Austria and Hungary both moved to annex territories directly into their states with the others’ approval. Austria bullied Bohemia into accepting annexation of its German-speaking regions, but Hungary had less luck with its attempts to claim regions of Croatia. The Croatians rejected this move and rose up in arms against the Hungarian forces, leading to the Austria deciding to watch developments in both Bohemia and Galicia-Lodomoria carefully in case they joined in the revolt as well.
So it was on July 16th a RSI shipment to the CNT-FAI attempted to run the blockade of the Italian Federation, escorted by elements of the Republican Navy. The resulting confrontation was a debacle for the RSI, with the transports scuttled and the escort ships destroyed, with a significant loss of life.
The RSI severed all lines of connection with the Italian Federation, as did the Commune of France. Both demanded that the Italian Federation withdraw from the Spanish war or suffer the consequences.
The Federation unsurprisingly refused. An emergency session of the House of Commons was called, with members of the Council of the Republic also participating, over the next approach. As the hours went on it became apparent that war was becoming a fast possibility. Communiqués from the Commune of France indicated debates in Paris were taking the same direction.
“I believe we can’t dance around the issue any longer”, declared Gramsci “We will come into conflict with the Federation sooner or later- and the longer we wait the stronger they get.”
“I concur with the Chairman”, said Togliatti, “The Federation has been sabotaging our attempts at solidifying our order at every junction. We have a good opportunity to smash these reactionaries once and for all”
“More over it appears the Mafia has once again attempted to get people out of the country”, started Grieco, “We have evidence that they have gathered ‘volunteers’ to fight in the Pope’s crusade in the Vatican. The Federation is just walking all over us. We cannot let this go any further.”
“So tell me then”, said Matteotti, “why have you all forgotten so quickly about our loss of life in running the blockade. It almost seems that has become secondary to your warpath right now”
“What is your point, Matteotti?”, asked Mussolini, “we already know you are too much of a coward to take up arms in defense of the revolution”
“I stand with the people of Italy against war”, retorted Matteotti, “Surely you don’t want this seen as an act of imperialism, something you know well considering your glowing support of the Great War…”
“Don’t lecture me on Imperialism”, yelled back Mussolini, “I served jail time with other comrades in opposing the Italian occupation of Libya, where as your reformist ilk like Bonomi showed their opportunistic tendencies in supporting that adventure.“
Mussolini waved towards Turati, “After all, I recall yourself, your master here, and the rest of the Social-Reformist delegation supported the war!”
The hall broke out into yelling and Gramsci banged his gavel on the podium
“Comrade Matteotti”, sighed Gramsci, “I would rather save these kinds of debates for later. Where were you going with your previous line of questioning?”
“I want the full circumstances of the naval incident- did we not know the Federation would act as such? If anything, this seemed to be a provocation”
“Then if you feel that way”, said Berneri, “you’ll simply show that in your vote. No need to get feathers ruffled. Unless you would rather explain that to peoples of the Workers and Peasant Army”
Bordiga mumbled something again about anarchists after Berneri’s comments, recalling a similar incident over the support for the CNT-FAI. Once again the hall erupted into arguments and fights, and Gramsci had to bang the gavel once more.
“Comrades, time is of the essence. We cannot dally any longer. We have been going at this for nearly six hours without any conclusion. Let us see what the vote brings”
The vote was taken, and this time the vote found itself narrowly in favor of intervening in the Spanish Civil War and “punishing” the reactionaries. Nenni sent a telegram to Paris stating the government of the RSI’s position and within an hour was sent back a reply indicating the Commune of France was preparing to join on behalf of the CNT-FAI in the war. With Germany and Austria distracted, it would be an opportunity to solidify the Commune of France’s position in Europe. For the RSI though, it was the promise of finally reunifying the Italian peninsula. Time would be of the essence though- a prolonged war would give Germany and Austria the excuse to intervene.
The Revolution of 1921’s fate was now joined with the fighters of Spain.
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[1] To this day the identity of the leader of the CNT-FAI in the RSI is unknown. His name has been carefully removed from public records.
[2] Butler was one of the few high ranking US military officers, along with George C. Marshall, to throw in their lot with the Combined Syndicates. Butler in particular had become increasingly radicalized after American interventions in Central America, saying that he was a “gangster for capitalism”.